A pub landlord has been jailed for life for murdering a popular regular in a landmark ‘double jeopardy’ case.

David Keane has been jailed twice for the same crime because victim George Harris died two-and-a-half years after he attacked him.

Back on the night of July 3, 2011, the relief bar manager punched Mr Harris to the floor and stamped on his head because he didn’t drink up quickly enough when he called time at the Huntsman Inn, Rusholme.

Former Burnage High School pupil Mr Harris suffered a severe brain injury in the frenzied attack, which lasted just six seconds.

After making a ‘miraculous recovery’ Mr Harris went on to give evidence against Keane in a trial for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

But, by the time Keane had finished his six-year sentence, Mr Harris, an aspiring electrical engineer, had died from epilepsy caused by the attack at the age of 33. This meant Keane was put on trial once again - this time for murder.

Keane, 43, of Lowthorpe Street, Moss Side, denied murder in a Manchester Crown Court trial which concluded yesterday, claiming self-defence. But his account was rejected by the jury and he has now been jailed a second time for the attack - this time for life.

Judge David Stockdale QC ordered Keane to serve 14 years - less time served for the GBH sentence - before he can apply for parole.

Sending him down, the judge told him: “I’m entirely satisfied that George Harris’ epilepsy was overwhelmingly the sole cause of his death. You were responsible for George Harris’ death in December 2013 as surely as if he died immediately after your brutal attack on him.”

George Harris, 33, who died over two years after an attack in a Rusholme pub

Mr Harris was a popular regular at the Wilmslow Road pub, which has since closed, and had recommended Keane, his friend of 20 years, for the job of relief manager after the licensee fell ill.

But when Mr Harris gave Keane ‘some lip’ when he asked him to drink up at closing time, he attacked him with such fury he left a footprint on his face.

The attack left Mr Harris with post-traumatic epilepsy - with one fit so severe he ended up in a coma. He pulled through, but on New Year’s Eve 2013 he died alone in his Chorlton flat.

His body was found in his bathroom by his mother, who became concerned after he stopped answering calls after they spent Christmas together.

Speaking after the case, George’s mum Lynn Harris, from Rusholme, said: “George was a happy-go-lucky chap who would do anything for anybody. There were over 500 people at his funeral and his Facebook page has been constantly going. Finally, we have justice for George.

“After his accident he was depressed - he wasn’t jovial any more, he was frightened all the time.

“He was the best son, and I knew there was something wrong when he didn’t answer his phone. When I found him I just couldn’t believe it - I phoned the ambulance and was asked if I could feel a pulse, he was stone cold. He was freezing. I just wanted to pick him up off the cold floor.

“David Keane has never shown any remorse but I think the sentence is fair. I know he didn’t mean to kill him - but his actions in just six seconds have devastated our lives and his own family’s lives.”

At the sentencing hearing, Nicholas Johnson, defending, sought to mitigate for Keane by saying Mr Harris had not been in ‘constant pain’ in the aftermath of the attack, and had two-and-a-half years of ‘relatively normal life’.

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He said there had been no pre-meditation and that Keane had received ‘provocation with a very small p’ from his victim. He added that prison would be harder because of his age, and urged the judge to take into account the effect ‘double jeopardy’ - being tried for the same crime twice - had upon him.

Sentencing, Judge Stockdale told Keane: “The attack was short-lived but it was savage and it was brutal. For no justifiable reason whatsoever you lashed out at George Harris with your fists, struck him hard to the face and following up with a flurry of further blows.

“You pushed him off balance, although he was by then visibly dazed, so that he fell, striking his head to the floor. Once he was lying on floor you stamped on the side of his head. Even as bystanders held you, you attempted to kick again.

“No matter how may times one sees the footage one’s sense of revulsion remains undiminished, it’s plain to see that as you attacked George Harris he offered no resistance. Before you struck him for the first time, he neither offered nor threatened any violence. What caused you to strike out was not fear, but simply an outbreak of violent temper.”

The judge went on to add that ‘justice for George Harris would never have been achieved’ had it not been for CCTV - since of all the people in the pub that night, only the barmaid helped police.

The judge went on to say: “The brutality of this sustained and repeated assault committed at night in a public place is an aggravating factor, as is your position as relief manager that night, if anyone had responsibility for keeping order and for keeping people safe in the Huntsman Inn that night it was you.

“A further aggravating factor is the suffering which George Harris endured in the next two-and-a-half years. But I take account you have been convicted and had to go through a second prosecution and the distress you will have suffered as a result of having your sentence reopened and now increased.”

Manchester Crown Court

The judge paid tribute to George’s mother, who in a victim statement said: “The years leading up to George’s death had been traumatic. I didn’t know if George was going to pull through the massive injuries he had sustained.

“His heart stopped twice that night, but by the grace of God George began to make a recovery. However, life as we knew it had changed due to what

David Keane had done. George had to battle through several surgeries - there were some injuries that could not be repaired.

“The damage inflicted on George’s brain was lif- limiting and life-threatening, and ultimately a death sentence. When George died I didn’t want to live, the light of my life had done.

“I grieve every day for all that I have lost, the pain I feel when suddenly I realise it won’t be him knocking at the door, his name will never flash up when my phone rings, I won’t get another text simply saying, ‘love you mum’.”

In a statement Detective Sergeant Doug Cowan of South Manchester division said: “The level of violence used in this sustained attack was horrific and George did not retaliate, but was left lying in the street by Keane. The full attack was captured on CCTV and I hope this acts as a reminder that if people commit such acts of violence, they will be seen and pursued.

“It is an unusual case as there were more than two years between the original attack and George’s death and Keane had already served two years in prison for the attack before being released on licence. This is one of only a handful of cases in which a change to the law has meant that justice can be pursued.

“In the past, there was a time limit of a year and a day for prosecutions for murder, but people are now surviving injuries for longer because of advances in medical science, and this rule was quashed. It is only because this time limit was repealed that we were able to proceed with this case.

“What it does show is that GMP will pursue justice for victims, no matter how long ago it happened. I would like to pay tribute to the family; this is the second time they have had to go to court about this matter, but they have acted with a huge amount of dignity in what has been a difficult time for them.

"I hope that George’s family can now try to move on from what has happened and start to rebuild their lives.”